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Single Idea 21868

[filed under theme 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions ]

Full Idea

Because men consider themselves to be free, they have a greater love or hate toward one another than toward other things.

Gist of Idea

We love or hate people more strongly because we think they are free

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], III Pr 49S)

Book Ref

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. Curley,Edwin [Penguin 1996], p.95


A Reaction

A very penetrating remark. If we abandon the concept of free will, I suspect that we will all become much more easy-going and tolerant, but the thought that feelings of love might also decline is a sobering one.